Tournaments

2018 Pan America Championships

Brazilian hopes end, Zhang Mo and Adriana Diaz reach final

25 Nov 2018

Impressive performances, Canada’s Zhang Mo followed by Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, the respective top two seeds, booked places in the final of the Women’s Singles event at the Sparta 2018 ITTF Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile on the late afternoon of Sunday 25th November.

Contrasting styles, it was Zhang Mo who controlled proceedings from start to finish, reversed smooth rubber on the backhand, short pimpled rubber on the forehand, the variation in the degrees of top spin executed proved a key factor.

Throughout Zhang Mo stayed close to table, Gui Lin somewhat different, her preference being to execute top spin from both wings a step back from the table; in so doing she made errors as she repeatedly tried to direct her attacking options towards the backhand of her adversary.

Calm and composed always, Zhang Mo established a three games to nil lead, in the fourth she led 5-4: Gui Lin called “Time Out”, the break was to prove to no avail. Victorious when facing the Brazilian at the quarter-final stage of the 2017 ITTF Pan American Cup in San José, Costa Rica, Zhang Mo was successful once again.

Success for Zhang Mo was followed by success for Adriana Diaz, a contest that witnessed the level of play rising in the third game after the first two had been shared. Consistent from the backhand, Adriana Diaz was able absorb the strong attacking play of Bruna Takahashi, the positive approach having proved so successful en route to the semi-final round. Equally, following the service with a forehand executed with heavy top spin as opposed to speed brought the Puerto Rican success after success.

It was very much gain a good start and maintain the advantage; after losing the opening game Bruna Takahashi established a 7-3 lead in the second and never looked back, in the third it was the same but in favour of Adriana Diaz. She went ahead 6-1, before in the fourth winning the first three points. Bruna Takahashi called “Time Out” but was never able to gain parity.

Now the momentum was with Adriana Diaz but in the fifth game she trailed 5-3; to her credit she did not panic, she remained calm and controlled the counter top spin rallies. She did not lose another point, a place in the final was secured.

The final will be play later in the day during the evening session of play.